Better Safe than Sorry

How to tell if you have a cold or the flu – and how to help prevent contracting either one

By: Dr. Nick Nilest

Oh no, here it comes again: the cough, the sore throat, the stuffy nose. It’s that time of year when the cold and flu are prevalent. But how can you tell the difference?

“A common cold and the flu are similar because they’re both respiratory illnesses,” says Dr. Michael Fuentes, medical director of Corpus Christi Rehabilitation Hospital. “Even though they’re caused by different viruses, they share many of the same symptoms. This makes it hard to know for sure which you may have unless you visit your doctor.”

Symptoms for both illnesses can include a cough, a sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, fever, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue. However, flu symptoms tend to be worse than cold symptoms, and people with colds are more likely to have runny or stuffy noses.

“A cold usually doesn’t result in serious health problems, but the flu can,” Fuentes says. “While most folks can recover from the flu in less than a couple weeks, it can lead to respiratory complications like bronchitis, pneumonia and bacterial infections. In the worst cases, these complications can lead to hospitalization.”

While anyone can get severely sick from the flu, groups at higher risk for complications include adults older than 65, young children, pregnant women, people with chronic medical conditions and individuals with compromised immune systems.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu typically is seasonal, unlike a cold, which can be caught year-round. The United States experiences seasonal flu epidemics every year, with flu viruses being most common during the fall and winter months. Flu activity peaks between December and March, and usually lasts throughout May.

“Prevention is essential to avoiding the flu or a cold,” Fuentes says. “With the flu, I always recommend a flu vaccination as your best form of defense – especially for those who are at higher risk for complications. Beyond that, many of the same techniques work in avoiding the cold or flu.”

But what if, despite your best efforts, you still manage to catch a cold or the flu? “With either, my recommendation would be to stay home: Drink plenty of fluids, and rest up,” Fuentes says. “For a cold, use over-the-counter medications like antihistamines or decongestants to help relieve some of the symptoms. For the flu, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral drug to help shorten the duration of the illness and prevent complications.

“And with both, always contact your physician if your symptoms persist or worsen. You know your body best. If it doesn’t feel right, get it checked out. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.”

Fuentes suggests the following to help avoid a cold or the flu:

• Stay away from anyone who is sick, and stay away from others when you are sick.

• Wash your hands thoroughly and often throughout the day with hot water and soap. Use an alcohol-based sanitizer if hand-washing isn’t possible.

• Limit what you touch when in public, such as stairway rails. Wash your hands soon after touching.

• Get plenty of sleep, eat right and exercise regularly.

Corpus Christi Rehabilitation Hospital provides specialized physical rehabilitation services to patients recovering from strokes, brain, spinal cord and orthopedic injuries and other impairments as a result of injury or illness. The hospital’s patient care is ranked among the top 10 percent in the nation, and its stroke rehabilitation program is certified by The Joint Commission. For more information, go online to www.ccrh.ernesthealth.com, call 361-906-3700 or visit the hospital at 5726 Esplanade Drive in Corpus Christi, Texas.